Mary Marie Hogan

It didn't matter if the task was big or small, when Mary Marie Hogan set her mind to doing something she saw it through and did a good job. From the time she was very young growing up on a farm to the last years of her life, she labored tirelessly everyday to provide for her family, serve her church and community, and care for her friends. While all of her efforts could have made life dull, it only made her days more colorful and her personality more vibrant. Whether sharing a slice of her fresh baked apple pie with a neighbor or making a potholder for the church bazaar, in all of her 109 years Mary lived a life that was rich and full of family, friends, experiences, and love. In the late 1800s the population of Sweden was quite literally busting at the seams while a sluggish economy wasn't keeping up. From across the Atlantic, however, news began to spread of vast fields of untold farmland and a booming economy in the United States of America. In the 1880's, Charles and Maria (Hedstrom) Anderson collected their belongings and joined the thousands of other Swedes setting out to seek their fortunes in America. Making their new home near the shores of Lake Michigan in Laketon Township, Charles worked the land as a farmer while Maria, a homemaker, was busy raising the couple's four children. On July 21, 1897, her job got a little bigger when the couple celebrated the birth of their fifth child, a daughter named Mary Marie. Although Charles and Maria left their homeland of Sweden, they never left their rich heritage behind, and they made sure to impart an appreciation of it in each of their nine children born in the United States. Because of this, Mary learned early on to acknowledge and take pride in her cultural inheritance. She received a formal education in a one-room schoolhouse near the corner of Horton and Giles Road in Laketon Township. But like so many of her generation, Mary left school at the end of eighth grade in order to help out at home. She devoted all of her time to working on the farm and did almost anything and everything she could, except ride a horse. One evening when she was about twenty years old, Mary attended a country dance where was introduced to a young man named Lester J. Hogan. She and Lester enjoyed each others company so much that it wasn't long before they decided to marry. On December 21, 1918, Mary became Mrs. Lester J. Hogan, when they were wed at a ceremony in Muskegon. In the years that followed their nuptials, the newlyweds wasted little time before starting a family, welcoming three sons, David, Lester, and Maurice. During the 1920s, both at home and in America at large, there was a lot to be excited about, but the arrival of the 1930s and the Depression era left little cause for celebration. Most families struggled to make ends meet and just getting by became a way of life. To support their young family, Mary worked for some time at Brunswick and Muskegon Curtain Roll, while Lester worked for Texaco in Muskegon. As the decade drew to a close and a new one began, there was a bittersweet sense of hope for better tomorrow. A battle was being fought overseas and Americans were called back to work in support of the war effort. After America entered World War II, Mary was one of the many women dubbed "G.I. Janes," who went to work in some of the factories and businesses charged with building the war machine. She took a job at Continental Motors during the war, but was laid off on the day Europe was liberated, known to most as "D-Day." She may have been proud of her country, but she was even more proud that two of her three boys had enlisted and served in World War II. After the war ended, Mary returned to the job she knew best, a homemaker. She was a fabulous cook and an even better baker, becoming quite famous for her delicious apple pies, banana bread, and brown bread. She enjoyed baking for friends, relatives, and just about anyone with an appetite. Mary also liked to garden and grew her own fresh fruits and vegetables at the family's homestead on Tyler Road in Dalton Township. She never had a shortage of visitors, who came for all of the goodies, but stayed for the good company. Mary was also very crafty and could sew quite well. If the church or a friend was ever in need of a seamstress, she was always willing to help out. At Christmas time she made her own ornaments and loved to decorate the Christmas tree with them. In 1968, Mary's husband Lester passed away just short of their 50th wedding anniversary. After enjoying such a blessed marriage, Mary never remarried and with the help of her extended family, church family, neighbors, and friends, she remained living at home, on her own until the age of 104. She continued to bake and do craft projects, but also liked to play cards and cribbage and solve word puzzles. She was a member at Fruitland Evangelical Covenant Church and always found a way to use her gifts and talents to serve the congregation there. At one point, cataracts had made it very difficult for her to see and move around, but she was able to have surgery to correct the problem. One year later, at the age of 103, she was actively involved in cutting rags for rugs and making potholders to be sold at the church bazaar. She also discovered a new passion in life, designing her own custom notes and cards. Mary was born, raised, and lived her entire life in West Michigan, yet she never lost her appreciation for her roots. She was a lifetime member of the Swedish Heritage Society of West Michigan and never forgot to say a Swedish child's prayer each night at bedtime. She worked hard all of her life, but she never drank or smoke, and ate healthy foods everyday. Out of the nine children born in her family, Mary was the only one remaining after her last surviving sibling, Lillian, passed away on December 29, 2004 at the age of 100. While her passing may represent the end of a generation, she leaves behind a legacy of fond memories that will forever remain in the hearts and minds of all who knew her. Mary Marie Hogan, age 109, died Saturday November 4, 2006. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; 3 sons, David, Lester, Jr., Maurice; 8 brothers and sisters. Her surviving family includes nieces & nephews, Mary Lois Kaskey, Carol McCarus, Carl Myers, Jeanne Curtis, Len Anderson, Bette Rowley, Gail Bradford, Glenn Anderson, and John Anderson. A service will be held on Thursday, November 9, 2006, 11:00 AM, at the Clock Chapel with Rev. Brian Kyle officiating. Mary's favorite Swedish childhood prayer will be read by a member of the Swedish Hertiage Society of West Michigan. Interment will be in Fruitland Township Cemetery. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, 6-8 PM & Thursday, 10-11 AM, at the Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon. Donations may be made to the Fruitland Evangelical Covenant Church Building Fund. Please visit Mary's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book.